Wizards Sign Australian Star Xavier Cooks to Multiyear Deal

Cooks, 27, is 6-foot-8 and has been playing for the Sydney Kings of the Australian League.

“We welcome Xavier to the Wizards organization as a very intelligent, high-energy player that will add athleticism to our squad while being a great teammate,” Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said in a statement. “He left a lasting legacy in the NBL to pursue his dream to play in the NBA and we feel he will be an excellent addition now and in the future.”

Cooks has spent his enter career playing internationally since departing Winthrop in 2018. He started in Germany before joining Sydney, where he has played in each of the past four seasons. He was named 2023 National Basketball League MVP after leading the Kings to the title.

Sam Vecenie and Josh Robbins of The Athletic took a look at how Cook might be able to help. Check out the full story here.